Zarina Holmes

We were back in London to cover the strange and wonderful world of pop culture.

It’s a shame because British people are kind, creative, multicultural and open to amazing ideas: but the economy isn’t helping. Brexit and the current war are making situation worse. They deserve better.

Behind paywall article from 15 October. I’m afraid this is already becoming a reality. Yes, the pound sterling is strong and culture is high level. But in UK the money earned doesn’t go far in the country. Redundancies is a common 4-5 year cycle.

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/10...

Loving being back in London with friends. But I’m also feeling concerned listening to the cost of living crisis in the UK. A dear friend with experience in tech and journalism, plus two Masters degrees had applied for over 400 positions before getting his job.

We’re excited to meet creators and fandom again @mcmcomiccon.bsky.social London next week. Looking forward to hear the latest of adaptation news, comics and new releases.

Now which anime t-shirts should we wear this year? 🍁🎃🇬🇧

#mcmcomicconlondon
#storyofbooks

Nest After our move from London, we stayed for a year at our idyllic seaside home. In retrospect, it was probably the best period for me to deal with the shocks: cultural, ideological and geographical. …

“Although I miss my roses in London, I haven’t considered growing them in Perak. My gardening practice is about living in the present and I want to understand the plants that are growing around me.”

My note on acceptance and letting go.

Meditation on Nest.

aftertherainproject.com/2025/09/26/n...

I’m so lucky to have loving friends and family members of all races and walks of life in the UK. These people rose above all that to become my colleagues and mentors. We shared butties together in the park when we’re broke and bubblies when we’re plush. Don’t let hate divide us.

On terror attacks, I’m sad to say as a Londoner I was desensitised to it. This is something Malaysian influencers living there don’t talk openly about. They just paint tea parties and roses, but it happens more frequently than in SE Asia. Of course, people are tired of it.

Oh, the world. I normally post pop culture here but, can’t help despairing over Global Sumud Flotilla interception and the terror attack in Manchester. Why is it so hard to feed starving humans today. Why are some people absolute suckers to antisemitism and hateful ideology.

Ever since the US TikTok taking over, my TL keeps showing this guy Hegseth. We're not on TT for boring propoganda: we're here for blokes that sell makeups, pop culture memes and cat videos.

‪Those are newly hatched bulbul chicks from our garden. We get them every few months or so. You don’t need to cage birds to enjoy them up close. Just plant berries and cherries around your house.‬

Nest After our move from London, we stayed for a year at our idyllic seaside home. In retrospect, it was probably the best period for me to deal with the shocks: cultural, ideological and geographical. …

“Although I miss my roses in London, I haven’t considered growing them in Perak. My gardening practice is about living in the present and I want to understand the plants that are growing around me.”

My note on acceptance and letting go.

Meditation on Nest.

aftertherainproject.com/2025/09/26/n...

‪But the character designs are fire. It just that their corporate interface a bit wobbly.‬

Excited to receive a new brand guidelines from a major sports organisation, only to scroll down and think, “Oh dear I hate that font…” “Ugh rounded corners for images”

Also, not-so-secretly delighted than I’ve produced better guidelines.

Is it just a fandom craze? No. Pop culture is a reflection of the simplest public sentiment. It's not influencing the future, but a symbolic tool for the masses to communicate their current feelings. This is the mood of 2025.

I’m on Thread. Not promising anything there; some roses from the garden maybe.

I knew this day would come, but I was never ready 💔 The original Great Gatsby. I love his work the most in The Way We Were. A prolific activist too. Rest in power, Robert Redford.

‪I don’t spend time on Midjourney much now because of Nano Banana and Firefly. See, there are too many AI channels out there impossible to explore everything,.

How Gen Z protestors chose Nepal’s first woman prime minister on Discord Over the week, multiple polls were held by representatives of the protest movement on Discord to nominate possible leaders and Karki emerged as a favourite, widely praised for her integrity

The establishment should listen to digital anthropologists more, because the digital space is its own universe with its own demographic.

Interesting that Nepal elected new PM via Discord’s vote. The only time I use Discord is to train for Midjourney.

www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...

Days before death, Charlie Kirk debuted his right-wing message in Asia Trump ally spoke in South Korea and Japan as young men turn conservative globally

Let’s hope after what happened to Hyundai, the Asians would smell the macha before accepting this terrible ideology export.

It’s barbaric that he was murdered like that. Yes, he died in the world that he wanted; but our job is to try to improve it.

asia.nikkei.com/politics/day...

Just tried Google Nonabana. I think Stable Diffusion is cooked. Photoshop is clinging on dear life. If it’s not for the SVG export capability I’d been gone for Adobe system.

Doha attack. OK what the fuck, world. Doha is an important flight hub connecting the East and the West. Why attack a friendly and hospitable country like Qatar.

Yeah I believe in human revolution but burning things to cinders isn’t always the answer. Isn’t ‘the only’ answer.

Remember, when you smash things you must rebuild just as fast. Otherwise you’re no different to the Year Zero fanboys that set our region back decades.

The Constant Companion Tales Visit Amazon's The Constant Companion Tales page and shop for all The Constant Companion Tales books. Check out pictures, author information and reviews of The Constant Companion Tales

📕 Get ebook: www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0BK754VZ...

The Night of the Flying Blades. Part 3 of #TheConstantCompanionTales by @salinachristmas.bsky.social Ebook available on Kindle.
 
Included in #TheKeeperOfMyKin novel, available online and at major book outlets worldwide.

Reel: vm.tiktok.com/ZNd4pnFbP/

#horror #witchcraft #fantasy

However, please be mindful that the atrocities that was done then, wasn’t done by the people today. Peace can’t be achieve if we keep looking at the past and not willing to heal.

We have deep thoughts about this film. I recommend all photographers to watch this, just to remind ourselves that our highest calling is to bear witness to the world and give voice to those who can’t do it for themselves.

YouTube video by FilmIsNow Action Movies DEAD TO RIGHTS (2025) Trailer | Epic War Drama Based on True Events | In theaters August 15

Dead to Rights: 5⭐️ A historical film about the brave people who smuggled incriminating Nanjing massacre photos that put an end to WW2 Japanese occupation. If you love Godzilla Minus One, please watch this for balance. Not a dry eyes at the Kuala Lumpur cinema just now.

youtu.be/hn1LRaks6S4?...

Interview with the Vampire, the female gaze, BL or yaoi influence and Mary Shelley. Our Creative Director has an opinion on the series.
#iwtv @storyofbooks.bsky.social

storyofbooks.co.uk/2025/09/02/i...

Interview with the Vampire: the Emmy snub book fans should watch The TV adaptation of Interview with the Vampire impresses fans and critics, but it freaks out the establishment; Yoshiki buries the hatchet with Dan Da Dan, to fans’ relief; Demon Slayer and Jujuts…

Brilliant adaptation. It doesn't make sense that Interview with the Vampire gets no Emmy nomination for Directing, Writing or Acting. It interprets Anne Rice's works so well.
#iwtv
storyofbooks.co.uk/2025/09/02/i...